Optical instrument



E. S. BISSELL OPTICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 27, 1936 May 10, 1938.

% l6 EVERETT s. BISSELL INVENTIOR ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPTICAL INSTRUMENT Application March 27, 1936, Serial No. 71,346

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to optical devices and more particularly to a combined magnifier and pair of dividers.

In examining drawings, maps or the like, it is frequently necessary to use a magnifier to bring out small details and it is also often essential to use dividers to scale off distances, compare sizes etc. Tourists and motorists, for example, have constant recourse to maps and, although the desirability of these instruments is frequently brought home tothem, the fact that two small, separate devices are required, usually results in the omission of one or both of these articles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a magnifier having a pair of dividers secured thereto. Another object is to provide a simple and efficient mounting for divider arms on a lens holding rim. A further object is toprovide a simple, unitary article having a magnifier and a pair of dividers. These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front View of an article embodying this invention showing the divider arms in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of same showing the divider arms in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a side view of same.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the hinge joint of the divider arms.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a modification.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a further modification.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing wherein l0 indicates an annular rim having an internal groove ll within which a lens I2 is fixedly mounted. A lug [3 formed on one side of the rim l0, carries a pin M which extends through the lug l3 parallel to the axis of the lens l2. Two divider arms l5 and I6 are pivotally mounted on the pin M on opposite sides of the lug l3 and concave-convex caps l1 and I8 fixed on opposite ends of the pin l4, resiliently urge the arms and the lug into frictional contact.

When the combination of dividers and magnifier is not in use, the divider arms l5 and [6 are pivoted around so as to overlie the faces of the lens as shown in Fig. 1 and in the dotted position in Fig. 3. The operative position of the divider arms l5 and I6 is shown in Fig. 2 and in the full lines of Fig. 3.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the pin I 9 extends through the lug 13 parallel to the plane of the rim ID. The divider arms 20 and 2| are pivotally mounted on the pin IS on opposite sides of the lug l3 and are arcuately curved concentric with the rim II]. In this form, the arms 20 and 2| do not come in contact with the surface of the lens 12 and the danger of scratching the lens surfaces is eliminated. The full lines show the divider arms 20 and 2| in inoperative position while the dotted lines show the operative position of the arms.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the rim [0 has two lugs 22 and 23 on opposite sides of the lens l2. One divider arm 24 is pivoted on a pin 25 in the lug 22 while the other divider arm 26 is pivoted on a pin 21 in the lug 23. The full lines show the divider arms 24 and 26 in their inoperative or closed position while the dotted lines show the arms in fully extended position. In this modification the arms 24 and 26 are pivoted on opposite sides of the lens l2 on axes perpendicular to the lens axis and hence the position of the arms on a chart or drawing can be observed through the lens.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide a unitary structure in which a magnifier and a pair of dividers are combined in a simple and. efficient manner. Various modifications can, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims. I

I claim:

An article of the class described comprising an annular rim, a lens mounted within said rim, a pin extending through one edge of said rim parallel to the axis of said lens, a pair of divider arms independently rotatably mounted on said pin, one on each side of said lens, said divider! arms being rotatable across the lens so that in inoperative position they serve to protect the lens surface, and resilient means for holding said arms and rim in frictional contact.

2. A combined magnifier and divider compris ing an annular rim, a lens mounted within said rim, a pin extending through one edge of said rim parallel to the axis of said lens, a pair of divider pointed arms independently rotatably mounted on said pin, one on each side of said lens, said divider arms being curved to lie close against the faces of the lens to protect the lens and being shorter than the diameter of the rim so that the rim extends beyond the pointed ends of the arms, and resilient means for holding said arms and rim in frictional engagement.

EVERETT S. BISSELL. 

